Roque: Face shields not required outdoors unless in crowded places

Face shields need not be worn outdoors unless one is in a crowded area, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said Monday.

Roque made the clarification days after he announced that the policy on using face shields is on status quo pending the decision of President Rodrigo Duterte on the appeal of the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) regarding the matter.

“Hindi po inapela ng IATF ang hindi pagsusuot ng face shield sa labas (IATF did not appeal the decision not to use face shields outdoors),” Roque said. 

“What was appealed by IATF was the mandatory use of face shield in public transport, enclosed spaces and crowded places such as public markets,” Roque added. 

The IATF on Thursday recommended to Duterte the continued mandatory wearing of face shields in enclosed and indoor spaces such as hospitals, schools, workplaces, commercial establishments, public transportation and terminals, and places of worship.

Health Undersecretary Leopoldo Vega said last week that there is no need to wear face shields when outdoors in areas without crowds where there is low risk of COVID-19 transmission.

Senate President Vicente Sotto III then disclosed that Duterte has agreed that wearing of face shields should only be mandated in hospitals.

Roque then said that the President’s word is policy but with no prejudice to an appeal from the IATF, the policymaking body of the government’s COVID-19 response. 

On Monday, Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said Duterte will issue this week a memo on the use of face shields. —KG, GMA News